CHANNELSIDE | Bell Channelside | 6 stories | 422 rental units | complete - Page 6

FloridaFuture · June 19th, 2008, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloridaFuture

They Rent That-A-Way?

By JANIS D. FROELICH
The Tampa Tribune
Published: June 18, 2008

CHANNEL DISTRICT - Developer Michael DeMarcay never considered putting condominiums on the 7.9 acres that Synergy Properties bought from the city five years ago.

Apartments always were the plan, said DeMarcay, Synergy's vice president. So when the 422-unit Seaport Channelside, bordered by Twiggs and 12th streets and Meridian and Raymond avenues, is completed by October, Synergy will use the rest of its land to build more apartments.

The 300-unit second phase will be designed for smaller apartments and lower rents, DeMarcay said. The project should break ground in 2009.

"Apartments really fill a hole that we have here in the downtown area," he said.

Plus, trying to fill apartments is a whole lot easier than selling condominiums in a sluggish housing market.

Since September, the Grand Central on Kennedy condominium complex, across from Seaport Channelside, has been leasing 200 of its 392 units as apartments. About 35 units remain available for rent.

"At least when you're leasing the units you have a better chance to look to the future," Grand Central spokesman Don Scalf said.

He said about half of the potential condo buyers pulled out of their deals at Grand Central, 1208 E. Kennedy Blvd. Some investors were renting out their units so it made sense for Grand Central to follow suit.

Scalf said some renters expressed an interest in buying, but he's not seeing that trend now.

"I haven't written a contract in a long time," he said.

Other Channel District condo projects, including The Towers of Channelside and The Place at Channelside, have filed for bankruptcy protection.

Even with the community's limited rental options, Seaport Channelside, like Grand Central, is offering move-in incentives such as one month's free rent.

Developers say a host of amenities are needed to attract renters willing to pay upward of $1,400 monthly for a one-bedroom unit at Grand Central and $1,250 at Seaport Channelside.

Channel District rents are comparable to those on Harbour Island.

At Seaport Channelside, 50 tenants have moved in, with 174 units completed since March. Community director Trish Carney said tenants expect such things as the courtyard swimming pool and large recreational room.

"Of course, our appeal is our location," she said. "But people also want services at their apartments, so we offer dry-cleaner pickup, massage and workout rooms and downstairs computers."

There also are bicycles to use for free, fax machines, a gourmet coffee counter and a resident activity calendar.

"We have to offer a resort-style living," Carney said.

DeMarcay said he will take comments from renters before deciding what to include in the second phase.

"Certainly, there won't be as many amenities," he said. "We went overboard here."

Scalf said mixing renters and owners is working at Grand Central, which has a rooftop lap pool and running track.

"They have dinners and go to the pool and make friends," he said.

At Channelside Bay Plaza, merchants hope warm bodies - renters or owners - continue coming to the Channel District.

"We desperately need people to live nearby," said Cher Tournade, who has owned the Surf Down Under clothing store for three years.

"We depend on locals," she said. "We are only going to get so many cruise- and conventiongoers. If more and more people could walk here, that would be great."

Robert Bousquet, co-manager of the plaza's 2-year-old NYPD Pizza Delicatessen, said his favorite phrase is, "Nice to see you again."

"To get these repeat customers, especially in the summer when it's always slow, we need to have a full neighborhood nearby," he said.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 259-7657 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.

http://southtampa2.tbo.com/content/2...at-a-way/?news

From the article:

The lobby for Seaport Channelside, a new 422-unit rental complex opening in the Channel District, reflects a nautical theme. Photo courtesy of Seaport Channelside

Seaport Channelside, a 422-unit apartment complex in the Channel District, is projected to open in October. News Channel 8 photo by PAUL LAMISON

Rental units at Seaport Channelside feature polished concrete floors. Photo courtesy of Seaport Channelside

TampaGuy · June 19th, 2008, 07:04 AM

Can someone tell me where the 2nd phase is to be?

TampaGuy · June 19th, 2008, 07:08 AM

One more photo.

O

Jasonhouse · June 19th, 2008, 08:19 AM

They own a 59,000sqft (about 1.35 acres) parcel on the block directly east, fronting Twiggs.

It is supposed to be significantly taller than this project was.

Maxim98 · June 19th, 2008, 10:56 AM

Hey, it's not inspired, but overall I think it's a solid project and meets most requirements I would personally have in mind for the spot. Thumbs up! A bit more street intimacy would be nice, but projects like this sorrrrta get a partial pass.

DShenise · June 19th, 2008, 04:40 PM

Looking at the pool it reinforced something I learned a long time ago about scaling of the pool versus the pool deck. Its always better to have more deck than pool. It makes the whole area seem bigger. Generally you need maximum deck area so all the ladies have a place to lay out. People are generally vertical in the pool (standing around or hanging off the wall) and hoizontal on the deck so you always need more space on the deck. They might want to plant a massive hedge along that fence too so that they have some privacy from the wandering homeless.

Weisheit · June 23rd, 2008, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

They own a 59,000sqft (about 1.35 acres) parcel on the block directly east, fronting Twiggs.

It is supposed to be significantly taller than this project was.

Would that be this project?

TampaGuy · June 23rd, 2008, 04:16 PM

No, thats the place phase 3

DShenise · June 23rd, 2008, 04:59 PM

Ground breaking coming soon in ........2018.

FloridaFuture · December 16th, 2008, 11:37 PM

Seaport has updated it's site with pictures:

Judging by the stuff on the balconines, there seems to be a good number of people living here:

http://www.seaportchannelside.com/

smiley · December 16th, 2008, 11:38 PM

That's all well and good, but a little more street interaction would have been nice.

TampaGuy · December 16th, 2008, 11:48 PM

yeah, does anyone know how much retail/commercial space there is?

FloridaFuture · December 16th, 2008, 11:49 PM

Agreed, that's my major comaplaint with the project. Hopefully the Martin and the other lot for this project will have retail space, or this end of the district will be dead on the sidewalks.

TampaMike · December 17th, 2008, 12:54 AM

Was Seaport originally planned as apartments or were they condo before switching?

Yeah, more street interaction would had been great. I'm surprise they didn't do the whole first floor retail, but thats the developers decision and not mine.

DShenise · December 17th, 2008, 01:01 AM

Looks like Deck the Walls had a sale:

Really, everything is is pretty current and they nail this thing up. Sorry, its little details like that that worry me about a company. I get reamed if I'm a mm off on something, and they can't be bothered to hang current artwork, hell I'd be happy with a Melrose Place promo poster at least that would only be 15 years out of date and not 25.

The rest of the place looks pretty standard for a typical new build apartment complex though. Good to see they have tenants.

AKBTampa · December 17th, 2008, 03:42 AM

So no warhol, dali or picasso prints for you.

Jasonhouse · December 17th, 2008, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smiley

That's all well and good, but a little more street interaction would have been nice.

It doesn't need a lot... There is 125,000sqft of it that sits largely vacant at Grand Central alone... and when they build out their property, there will be a good amount of it along Channelside.

tampasteve · December 17th, 2008, 03:23 PM

Pretty nice, I would not mind living there if I were looking for an apartment - of course with my decorations and not theirs....

I understand that these were always planned as apartments and not condos.

Steve

FLHawk · December 17th, 2008, 03:43 PM

I'm sure I'm dating myself, but having a Patrick Nagel print on your apartment wall was de rigeur in the 80s, along with a black leather sofa and these great new devices called CD players. Oh yah, MTV used to actually play music videos all day long as well.

Ahhh, memories...

Jasonhouse · December 17th, 2008, 05:03 PM

Have any of you people bothered to go see the place on foot? It's not bad at all...

My only real disappointments were that guest parking was confined to the lot up next to the leasing office, forcing your friends to walk a considerable distance to your unit... and that there is just one pool area, which isn't particularly large. I was pretty surprised to see that the top of the garage was just parking, not another pool area, or park, or something. That seemed especially myopic, given that's the only place with a view in the whole complex, since it's so short.

December 16th, 2008, 11:38 PM	#111
smiley Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 4,097 Likes (Received): 0	That's all well and good, but a little more street interaction would have been nice. __________________ Do I contradict myself? Well then, I contradict myself. I am large. I contain multitudes. I don't pretend 'cause I don't care.

December 17th, 2008, 12:54 AM	#114
TampaMike Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 6,141 Likes (Received): 5	Was Seaport originally planned as apartments or were they condo before switching? Yeah, more street interaction would had been great. I'm surprise they didn't do the whole first floor retail, but thats the developers decision and not mine. __________________ Corporations Are People Too - Mitt Romney For the People that dress up like Corporations.

December 17th, 2008, 03:42 AM	#116
AKBTampa Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: St. Petersburg - Tampa Posts: 613 Likes (Received): 0	So no warhol, dali or picasso prints for you. __________________ My Blog http://www.tampaniatampa.blogspot.com My Map http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...f977&z=12&om=0

December 17th, 2008, 03:23 PM	#118
tampasteve Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tampa Posts: 2,363 Likes (Received): 2	Pretty nice, I would not mind living there if I were looking for an apartment - of course with my decorations and not theirs.... I understand that these were always planned as apartments and not condos. Steve __________________ Homer: Face it, Marge, Catholics rule! We got Boston, South America, the good part of Ireland, and we're makin' serious inroads in Mozambique, baby! "My badger's gonna unleash hell on your ass. Badgertastic!"

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June 19th, 2008, 07:04 AM	#102
TampaGuy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 392 Likes (Received): 0	Can someone tell me where the 2nd phase is to be?

June 19th, 2008, 07:08 AM	#103
TampaGuy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 392 Likes (Received): 0	One more photo. O

June 19th, 2008, 08:19 AM	#104
Jasonhouse Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,271 Likes (Received): 8	They own a 59,000sqft (about 1.35 acres) parcel on the block directly east, fronting Twiggs. It is supposed to be significantly taller than this project was.

June 19th, 2008, 10:56 AM	#105
Maxim98 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA / London, UK Posts: 1,244 Likes (Received): 0	Hey, it's not inspired, but overall I think it's a solid project and meets most requirements I would personally have in mind for the spot. Thumbs up! A bit more street intimacy would be nice, but projects like this sorrrrta get a partial pass.

June 19th, 2008, 04:40 PM	#106
DShenise Designer, 1404designs Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Santa Monica Posts: 1,133 Likes (Received): 0	Looking at the pool it reinforced something I learned a long time ago about scaling of the pool versus the pool deck. Its always better to have more deck than pool. It makes the whole area seem bigger. Generally you need maximum deck area so all the ladies have a place to lay out. People are generally vertical in the pool (standing around or hanging off the wall) and hoizontal on the deck so you always need more space on the deck. They might want to plant a massive hedge along that fence too so that they have some privacy from the wandering homeless.

June 23rd, 2008, 04:16 PM	#108
TampaGuy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 392 Likes (Received): 0	No, thats the place phase 3

June 23rd, 2008, 04:59 PM	#109
DShenise Designer, 1404designs Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Santa Monica Posts: 1,133 Likes (Received): 0	Ground breaking coming soon in ........2018.

December 16th, 2008, 11:37 PM	#110
FloridaFuture Former Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tampa/Gainesville Posts: 5,234 Likes (Received): 0	Seaport has updated it's site with pictures: Judging by the stuff on the balconines, there seems to be a good number of people living here: http://www.seaportchannelside.com/

December 16th, 2008, 11:48 PM	#112
TampaGuy Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 392 Likes (Received): 0	yeah, does anyone know how much retail/commercial space there is?

December 16th, 2008, 11:49 PM	#113
FloridaFuture Former Mod Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tampa/Gainesville Posts: 5,234 Likes (Received): 0	Agreed, that's my major comaplaint with the project. Hopefully the Martin and the other lot for this project will have retail space, or this end of the district will be dead on the sidewalks.

December 17th, 2008, 01:01 AM	#115
DShenise Designer, 1404designs Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Santa Monica Posts: 1,133 Likes (Received): 0	Looks like Deck the Walls had a sale: Really, everything is is pretty current and they nail this thing up. Sorry, its little details like that that worry me about a company. I get reamed if I'm a mm off on something, and they can't be bothered to hang current artwork, hell I'd be happy with a Melrose Place promo poster at least that would only be 15 years out of date and not 25. The rest of the place looks pretty standard for a typical new build apartment complex though. Good to see they have tenants.

December 17th, 2008, 03:43 PM	#119
FLHawk Channelside Pioneer Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tampa Posts: 603 Likes (Received): 0	I'm sure I'm dating myself, but having a Patrick Nagel print on your apartment wall was de rigeur in the 80s, along with a black leather sofa and these great new devices called CD players. Oh yah, MTV used to actually play music videos all day long as well. Ahhh, memories...

December 17th, 2008, 05:03 PM	#120
Jasonhouse Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,271 Likes (Received): 8	Have any of you people bothered to go see the place on foot? It's not bad at all... My only real disappointments were that guest parking was confined to the lot up next to the leasing office, forcing your friends to walk a considerable distance to your unit... and that there is just one pool area, which isn't particularly large. I was pretty surprised to see that the top of the garage was just parking, not another pool area, or park, or something. That seemed especially myopic, given that's the only place with a view in the whole complex, since it's so short.